Machine for deposition of coating



om.l .11, 1927. 1,644,993

R. G. FORDYCE MACHINE FOR DEPosI'rIoN 0F coA'rING Filed Aug. 17. 1926 4ASheets-Shee't 1 ct. o 11 1927 R. G. FoRDYcE MACHINE FOR DEPOSITION OF COATING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Au. 17. 192e Stro: auf

Oct.

R. G. FORDYCE MACHINE! FOR DEPOSITION 0F COATING Filed AHK. 17. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 644 993 Oct 111927 I R. G. FoRDYcE MACHINE FOR DEPOSITION OF COATING' Filed Aug. 17. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fatented Get. 11, 1927.

RUIEUS G. FORDYCE, 0F CECAGO, LLINOIS.

- MACHINE FOR DEPOSTIGN OF COATING.

Application filed August 17, 1926. Serial `No. 129,775.

This invention relates to machines for deposition of liquid coating on surfaces in the form of letters, numerals, other characters, ornamental configurations, etc., under the influence of a current of air.

it is an cbject of the invention to provide a machine that deposits predetermined requisite quantities of coating on an area of stock, the coating being conveyed periodically from its source by controlled air currents to the places of deposit and excess coating being conveyed or returned to the source.

Another object of the invention is to previde means under control of air eressure and suction for feeding coat-ing to air currents conveying the latter to places of deposition.

'When considered with the description herein, the characteristics of the invention are apparent from the accompanying draw- Y compound in the shape of numerals on strip of stock from which dials Of timepieces subsequently are to be severed.

Although the disclosures herein are excmplifications of what are considered preferable adaptations to a machine of that kind, it is to be understood that it is not the intention to be limited necessarily thereto in interpretation of the claims, as modifications in the disclosed machine and adaptations in other respects, within the limits of the claims, can be made without departing from the nature of the invention.

Lilre reference-characters refer to correspending parts in the views of the drawings, of which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig` 1;

3 is a fragmentary perspective, the upper plate of the raceway being shown in section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, the stencil being broken away, and the table being shown in depressed position;

Fig. 4c is a view of an alternative form rof machine g Fig. 5 is a section of the control-valve.

/mzks cmd associated parte.

apart aligned fluid-tight tanks 6 and 7, for

containing coating composition, arranged to rest on any suitable base (not shown). i

rlfhe tank-walls at their tops have outwardly-flaring iiangesl 8 for accommodation of bolts or other suitable fasteners 9, which hold covers 10 in Huid-tight association therewith. Lugs 11 on the tanks extend under the space therebetween. Y

The facing walls of the two tanks have oppositely-positioned outwardly extending flanges 12. Above them these tank-walls are formed with elongated substantially horizontal mouths 13, which lead into a raceway connecting thetanks, and which widen toward the interior of the tanks. The upper wall cf the raceway is a plate 1e, which may be formed integrally with Athe facing tank-walls, as shown.

Stencil-plate.

The lower wall of the raceway is afforded by a stencil-plate 15, spaced from and below the plate 1e. rihe stencil-plate is secured to side reinforcing members 16, which rest on the flanges 12, and it rests also on end members 1.7, which are secured to the upper wall 1-1 of the raceway `by fastenings 18. The stencil-plate is held in this manner in such position that its upper surface is in substantially the same plane as the lower sides of the mouths 13. @n removing the fastenings 1S and end members 17, the stencil may be withdrawn by sliding on the flanges 12, when another plate may be substituted.

The stencil has extending therethrough openings 19 of the shape and disposition of the characters or other configurations it is desired to form on stock treated by the machine. For the present exemplification of the invention, those openings may be of the shape of numerals arcuately arranged in the relative positions it is desired such characters shall appear on stock from which dials of timepieces subsequently are severed.

In the case of certain characters-as, for example, et, 6, 8, 9, CW-the central parts thereof, which are detached from `the main body of the stencil, are supported by hollow tubes 20, which extend through those parts, and which extend also upwardly through, and are secured in, the upper wall 14 of the raceway. The upper ends of these tubes are covered by flexible caps 21 of suitable Huid-tight elastic material, such as rub-l ber, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

StoceJwZcZz'ng table.

A vertically-movable table 22v below the stencil has depending membersV `23 fixed thereto, which extend through and are guided by the lugs 11.,.Springs 2li vinterposed between the table and lugs press the former upwardly to holda strip of stock A,

Vfrom which Vdials of timepieces subsequently *are* toy tie-severed, tightly against the `under side ofl each tank to end walls Vthereot ad A rod 33 connected tothe strap `jacent to the mouth 13. A slide 29 of a "coatiiig-eeder protrudes into the spa'oe'between each pair ot guides, and each pair of slides is seeuredto, or is an integral part oi", depending` legs of a cross-strap 3l. An Varcuate "scoop L32 is 'secured toa'nd between the Vlegs 130, and itslower ledge is vpositioned. Vtonioye vertically Vclose to, or in Contact with, "the sidefwall of the' tank across the Amouth. L

31 extends upwardly through the cover o the tank and tlnjoug'h `a threadedV nipple 34 'ot' the cover,

"andfitlis connected to afpiston 35 haringen "upwardlylextending Ypin '36 thereon. The piston is reciprocable in acasmg 37, prefer V*ably v`cylindrical, which `is screwed -at its lower end onto the nipple. A11-orifice V38 4'm the head o'f theo'pening normally closed Vby an outWardly-openable valve 39. The

A `v'a'lve hasan inwardly-extending sstenilO in the Vpathfof-movementof the pin 36 ot the V"piston, and it is held normally in closed 'position lby spring 4l interposed between Lthe head and an abutment 'fl-lof the stem. 'lhe pinB is arrangedfon upward movementr of the piston, "to contact `with the lower end'ot the stemantl lift the valve from its seat. A spring 43 'in fthe easing, interposed- Vbetween the hea'dandpistonltendsto press ithe latterfdownwardly against thelower end Aoi: "the casing `and to maintain the coating Y 'feeder 'einer-sed in coatingin the tank.v

Y Air ducts and valve. Y

*Afpipe-t is in communication with a Vacuiimtank or-Y tlier`A` device Afor -ina'intain ing.' Iliiiidpiessure below atmospheric 'and with a chamber within ayalve-casing45.

Two ports i6 yare in communication with the chamber. Valves 47, controlled by cams 48 on a shatt 49, are arranged to open either Vport at a time and to permit both to remain closed. Y

A pipe 5() is in communication with one oi Lne ports and the interior ot thetank 6 through the confer l0 and with the interior ofthe Vpiston-casing of the tank 7 by means oi' a 'pipe 5l. A pipe' 52 in communication with the other port and the interior oi *tank 'T through fthe cover thereoic and with thepiston-casm-gr of tank 6 by means ot p ip e Operation. `Liquid coating` material is charged into the tanks to a rlevel-'below 'the raceway-moutl s,

@and by rechargingfrom timeto time it kept at an Vamount `requisite v'lor suiiicient emersion of .the feed-.ers`

Coating is caused tofpass under the iinfluence oi air Vcurrents moving hrough the -raceway or passage from one tank onto the stencil and intofthe contigmation-openings tblereoit andl onto the stock, and the excess coating into the other tank, the air currentst yfrom tank 6 to tank 7 e result ot haustion oit air from tank 7 through the pipe Bythe time 'the vexhaust act-ion -in tank 7, and How ot air through the raceway ceases, veither by closing ot' the valve con'- trolling 'the pipe 52er upon diminishment of pressure inthe tanks to that ot the vacuum-tank or its equivalent, the pin 36 ot' `the piston `will have lifted the valve 39v oi'l Vtank 6' and relievedl the `piston of suction action through vpipe 53, and permitted the feeder intank to'bereturned'bythe spring 43 from the upper position lshown Vto i lower vposition in the coating in the tank.

Upon loweringthe table, the strip ot etok that has been tr\ited may/be withdrawn and anothersubstituted therefor, or in the cf se oi a strip longer than the width *ot the stencil it may be moved to bring another and untreated `area under the stencil, and thetable then is permittedto ypressthe lstock against the bottom of the stencil. I

Thereupon, the `valve `is operated-to open port 46 with -whi ch pipe 50 is in communication, and this will lresult'in exhaust ot air 'from tankband the piston-'casing otlt'ank 7, movement of a current of air exhausted trom tank 7 through the rac'eway into tank 6 movement of the feederof tank upwardly acrossits mouth anddeposit coat-ing in the flatter `and thecarr ine" o'tcoatino b f the air.

the stock and the excess will 4be carried intoV tank 6. Upon cessation of iow of air through the raceway, the feeder in tank 7 will be returned to immersion in the coating in the bottom thereof in the saine manner as described for that of tank 6.

When the table is pressed upwardly to bring the stock against the bottom of the stencil, some of the air therebetween will be forced upwardly through the openings of the stencil and s me will enter the tubes 2O and expand the caps 21. Vfhen the table is retracted from the stencil to release the stock, the tubes and their caps will furnish'air between the stock and stencil and prevent retention of the stock against the stencil under the iniiuence of suction.

T ie stenciling operation thus Vdescribed may be repeated indefinitely and alternately from eaclrtank to the other. The amount of coating' in each tank will remain substantially the same as that in the other, for the excess not deposited on the stock is carried alternately into each tank.

It is to be observed that, within the limitations of practicability of handling lengths of stock and other factors pertaining to the Vfunctioning of such machines. the tanks,

raceway, stencil, and table'may be made sufticiently long for the simultaneous stenciling of comparatively extensive areas of the surface of stock. rlhus, in the deposition of coating in the form of numerals and other conligurations on stock from which timepiece-dials subsequently are to be formed, one stencil may have a plurality of sets of configuration-forniing openings, with the result that a plurality of dial areas may be stenciled at the same time.

Alternative form.

in adaptation of the invention to a singletank machine is exemplified by Fig. 4. In this forni, the plate lf-t constitutes the bottom wall of a raceway or chamber, and it is at an inclination to the horizontal and slopes downwardly to the mouth of the tank. The stencil-plate is in substantially7 horizontal disposition, and it constitutes the upper wall of the raceway or chamber. The plate and stencil are closed together at the opposite ends and at the sides.

pipe a is incommunication with the vacuum-tank or other device for maintaining Huid pressure below atmospheric and with the interior of the tank. and` with a piston-casing of a feeder like that shown in the double-tank machine. he pipe is controlled by a valve 501 arranged to open and close its communication with the vacuum-tank or the like. A. pipe 54, controlled by a valve 55, is in communication with the interior of the tank and with the atmosphere or with an airpressure device.

iVhen thel valve is operated to open the pipe to the vacuum-tank or the like, air is exhausted from the coating-tank and from the space between the plate lel and the stencil, it being assumed that stock is held tightly, in any suitable manner, against- ,the top of the stencil at that time, and the feeder is moved upwardly across the ln'iouth to deliver coatinq' in sufficient quantity thereto. Then the va ve 50b is operateu to shut off communication withl the vacuum-tank or the like, and the valve is operated to permit air to rush into the tank. Thereupon, air will fill theA tank to atmospheric pressure or above and at the same Ltime rush into the closed space below the stencil and carry into the stencil openings coating that has been delivered to the mouth. The feeder, upon release of suction in its control-casing, will return to position below the mouth. Excess coating not taken up by the stock will be drawn by suction out of the stencil openings, and it will flow by gravity, and also to some extent under the influence of suction, back to the coating-tank.

What l claim as new, and desire-to secure by Letters Patent, is y l. ln a stenciling-inachine, a coating-container, a raceway communicating therewith, a stencil at a side of said raceway, a stockholding member at the outside of said stencil, and means Vwhereby air is moved fromy said container into said raceway.

2. In a stenciling-machine, a coating-container, a raceway having a mouth leading from said container, a coating-feeder movable adjacent to said mouth, a stencil at a side of said raceway, a stock-holdingI niember at the outside of said stencil, and means whereby air is moved from said container into said raceway. Y

3. In a stenciling-machine, a coating-container, a raceway communicating therewith, a. stencil at a side of said raceway, a stockholding member at the outside of said sten! cil, and means whereby air is exhausted from and released into said container.

ln a stenciling-machine, a coatiiig-conrainer, a raceway having a mouth leading from said container, a coating-feeder movable adjacent to said mouth, a pneumatic operating device for said feeder, a stencil at a side of said raceway, a stock-holding inember at the outside of said stencil, an exhaustpipe connected with said container and pneumatic device, and a vcontrol-valve for said pipe.

5. In a stenciling-machine, a stencil, a stock-holding member at one side thereof, and means whereby air containing` coating is passed across the other side of said stencil.

6. In a stenciling-machine, two coatingcontainers, a raceway between and in communication with said containers, a stencil at a side of said raceway, andy means whereby kair isicausedrtoipas's i'E-roniV one. oat said con- Y tainers to the otherythrongh said raceway.

7. ln a stencilino-inacliine two coatino'- CJ 7 b containers, a tacewayhetween and in com- 1 municati-on with said containers,a stencil at side otsaid raeewaygand means whereby currents ot air are caused to pass alternately rom,-each oit said containers to Y the` other through said raceway. Y J A 8,. ln a stenciling-niechine, two coatingeontaineits, a raceway,hetWeenand-.inCoin- Vmunication with said containers,astencil at Y' a oit said raceway, and ineanswherehy containers, ajraeeway havinginouthsfleading v feeder-operating device of the other,`and

.other through said graceway.

`air is exhausted intermittently troni one ofV sai d containers.

9. In a stencilingmachine, two coating-v containers, raceway `between yand incommunication With said containers,a stencil at aside of said raceway, and `means whereby air is exhaustedA alternately from each of Vsaid containers.

l0. In a stencilingrnaehine, two lcoat-ingvi'iioin `said containers, a Acoatingifeeder' movable adjacent to eachroi' Caid mouths, a stencil at a side of said `iaccway, -and -nieans whereby currents of air are caused to pass alternately from each of said .containers to the other through said raceway.

` ll. ln a stenciling-niachine, two coating containers, a raceway having mouthsleadii V'troni said containers, a coating-feeder niovy ahieadjacent to cachot said mouths, a pneuinatic operating device ior each of said'leeclers, a stencil centi-ol means for said pipes. i

13. A stenciling machine comprising two oppositeiy-disposed fluidi-tight coatiV lqcoir tainers, a plate connected to facing Walls ot said containers constituting theuppei' Wall oit a raceway extending between said containers, a stencil-plate at the bottom et said *vi-aceway, 1and V,means whereby air isrcaused Vto pass troni each o'l said containers tothe 111. ln a stenciling-machine, a coating-container, Va plateconstituting a ivali olan airpassage in communication with said` contain4 passage rwith said casing.

er, astencil atthe .opposite side ,otsaidpassage, and air-ducts insaid .plate extending through said stencil.

l5. In a stenciling-machine,.a coating-container, a plate constituting Va Wall yoan air-Y passage in communication Withisaid contai er, and a stencil constituting tan ,opposite ,walt part of' said Passeig@- lG. in a stenciling-machine, a coating-container, a rplate constituting a wall og an ,aii

"said conpassage ,in communication uiith tainer, afstenc'il constituting an opposite Wall part of said-passage, andy air-ducts in said kplate extending through said stencil.

17. ln a steneil-ineemachine acoat-inmcontainer,'a plateconstitnting,a ,Wall of an airpassage in communication with said container, a stencil the opposite sideot said fpassage, airliicts extending from the opposite side of said plate through said stencil,

andeipansihle caps on the outer"endsotv said ducts.

18. in a stencilingmachindecoatinggcontainer, a plate constituting a Wallet anairtainei, `stencil 4at the opposite side ot said passage -l'iaying configurationforming v openings, and supporting members i'or parts ot said-stencil Withinfsa-id openings carried by said `plate. Y v.

19." Va stencilingmachine, two oppositely disposed eoatingcont-aineis, a plate con- Anectedto facing W'alis oi said containers, a-

stencil below said piste, there being an airpassage Ycominunication `with saidA containers, and members secured to said plate vclosing the sides of said passage.

20S ln a stenciling-machine, a coating-container having a mouth and an air-passagel communicating therewith, aistencil at a side et said passage, a coating-'feeder movable acrosssaid'mouth, av casing, a piston thereA in connected with said feeder, and a valvecontrolled Vair-.pipe in communication With Vsaid casing.

2l, lna sten'ciling-machine, a coating-container having` a mouth Vand an air-passage communicating therewith, a stencil at a side ot said passage, a coating-teetler movable across said mouth, a casing having anairinlet, a` Valve-normally closing .said inlet,

a piston in said casing connected with said feeder arranged to open said valve, and a iff'lalve-controlled aii'fpipe in communication t 1n testimonyy `Whereoi I atiix my signature.

nonne ronnicn i in y connnunication with sa id -con-l between lsaid plate and `stencil in 

